USFL Teams: Chicago Blitz

By Wikipedia

Chicago Blitz was a professional football team that played in the United States Football League in the mid 1980s.

At a glance... Franchise Facts Established 1982 Located Chicago, Illinois Owners Ted Diethrich (1983) James Hoffman (1984) Records   W L T % 1983  12 6 0 .667 1984 5 13 0 .278 Postseason/Titles 1983 Lost to Philadelphia 44-38 (OT) Nicknames Chicago Blitz Stadium Soldier Field (65,077)

Chicago's USFL team in 1983 was one of the league's strongest teams. However between the 1983 and 1984 seasons, the Blitz's owner traded teams with the owner of the Arizona Wranglers which had been a weak team in 1983. The "new Blitz" in 1984 was not as successful as the 1983 team and folded after the 1984 season. While the USFL was active, the league considered the 1983 and 1984 Blitz the same "franchise" even though all the players were different.

See also: 1983 Blitz, 1984 Blitz

The Blitz had a number of players who had played in the National Football League or would go on to play there. Some of them were Vince Evans, Tim Spencer, Trumaine Johnson, Greg Landry, Vagas Ferguson, Larry Canada and Kevin Long.

The team disbanded following the 1984 season. Chicago White Sox owner Eddie Einhorn later owned a different Chicago franchise in the USFL, but he never fielded a team.

Single Season Leaders

Rushing Yards: 1157 (1983), Tim Spencer
Receiving Yards: 1327 (1983), Trumaine Johnson
Passing Yards: 2624 (1984), Vince Evans

USFL Bibliography
Books:
The $1 League: The Rise and Fall of the USFL by Jim Byrne
The Sporting News Official USFL Guide and Register, 1984
The Sporting News Official USFL Guide and Register, 1985
USFL Media Guides (each team published one each year)

Magazines:
Kickoff Magazine (published by league; 9 issues per year + playoffs; sold at games)
The Sporting News (regular coverage + special "preview" inserts)

These and many other USFL items can be found at eBay - check our links on the far right of this page!